Norris Cole remains on the free agent market and while a free agent contract to return to the New Orleans Pelicans is likely, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers have also shown interest in the point guard this summer.
Cole has remained on the market as a restricted free agent and much like Tristan Thompson and his situation with the Cavaliers, things have slowed down between the player and the team. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Anthony Davis has said publicly that he hopes the Pelicans retain Cole, as he played well with the team following his trade last season from Miami. Cole is a restricted free agent and that has made negotiations tough, as he does not have that much leverage over the Pelicans.
UPDATE: Norris Cole has taken the qualifying offer from the Pelicans. Check here for more.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Cole has the same agent as Thompson in Rich Paul and that could dictate how the situation will play out. Thompson is looking for more money than Cole, as he wants a max contract, and reports have Paul threatening that Thompson could sign his qualifying offer. The same could go for Cole, as the point guard may want to try for a bigger contract next summer as an unrestricted free agent if he takes the qualifying offer now.
According to Sam Amico at Fox Sports, Cole could be an option for the Cavs, as Cole has trained with LeBron James and the two have a close relationship. With Kyrie Irving out for a stretch, the team could look at Cole as an option, as reports have the Pelicans and Cole not close on a deal.
The best leverage that Cole and Paul have on the Pelicans is that Cole played very well down the stretch with Jrue Holiday injured. While Holiday likely will be the starter again, Cole showed that he could step in and the team has been interested in bringing him back. Davis has praised Cole multiple times this offseason and with Davis signing a major extension the team, may want to try and keep him happy.
Earlier in the summer there were reports that the Knicks, Lakers and Sixers were interested in Cole. While those reports may have been from Cole's camp as a way to gain some leverage, the teams make sense as they were all looking for some point guard depth. The Knicks have not traded Jose Calderon and they are comfortable with Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway, so a deal for now is not likely.
The Lakers wanted another point guard with Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell and they have added Marcelo Huertas as a potential option, but he is on a non-guaranteed deal and may not make the team. The Sixers were reportedly interested early on as well, but they have signed Kendall Marshall and may not want to shell out money for Cole at this point. Cole played just 28 games last season with the Pelicans, but he made an impact and he has experience playing for a contender in his time with the Heat while LeBron James was there.
Check here for more on the Pelicans and Cole and interest from the Cavs.
